Naval History Forums

I'm reading the entry for the Invincibles in Burt's British Battleships of World War One. In the torpedoes section it shows the following:

"Five 18 in torpedo tubes (four beam, one stern); twenty-three torpedoes plus six 14 in for the boats."

Did the Invincible's boats carry their own torpedoes?

I have a recollection of reading that some predreadnought had ship's boats equipped with torpedoes, but I cannot remember which one or from which country.

i did some digging and I suspect the photo on this page http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/torpedo_boats.htm (second down on the left) is what I'm looking for.

I'm quite surprised by the idea of battleships carrying one of these all that time ago - a bit like modern ships carrying a helicopter for ASW work.

MikeBrough wrote:i did some digging and I suspect the photo on this page http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/torpedo_boats.htm (second down on the left) is what I'm looking for.

I'm quite surprised by the idea of battleships carrying one of these all that time ago - a bit like modern ships carrying a helicopter for ASW work.

..... Carriage of small torpedo launches aboard capital ships actually goes back to the late ironclad period.

B

Thanks, Byron. Any idea which of the ship's boats would carry torpedoes? I'm assuming it would be the 'steam pinnace' but I can't find info anywhere online - and Burt assumes I know much more than I do. I suppose I could always ask him! Anyone have an email address for him?

Mike, your lead post and the issue of 14" torpedoes to this class.
That is correct.
As built, Indomitable, Inflexible and Invincible used the 14" (356mm) Whitehead torpedo in its various marks, depending on the date, for use by the ships 50' coal fired steam pinnace. A 2nd 50' or 36' was also sometimes carried, but only the 50' could be equipped with the lightweight dropping gear, 1 port, 1 starboard, for carrying, lowering and release of the weapon(s).
The 50' Steam pinnace was designed for use by the host warship, invariably battleships or equivalent, for protection whilst anchored, hence the picket. They could also carry a 3 pdr, maxim machine gun and assorted smaller arms, under the command of a midshipman or sub lt. A command no less. Crew c 14.
By the Great war in 1914 their use in this role was diminished, especially as most ships landed some boats.
Additional roles were as an Admirals or Captains barge, libertmen duties and also torpedo recovery. The fastest boat carried, once you had got steam up, 1.5 hours.
These 3 sisters had the 50' steam pinnace stowed port side aft, abaft the seaboat on the davits, amongst the other boats where the main mast boom was employed to place them in the water. Davits would lower the torpedo into the pinnace.
Total weight of a full complement of boats carried. 55tons.

MikeBrough wrote:i did some digging and I suspect the photo on this page http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/torpedo_boats.htm (second down on the left) is what I'm looking for.

I'm quite surprised by the idea of battleships carrying one of these all that time ago - a bit like modern ships carrying a helicopter for ASW work.

The vessels equipped with these small torpedoes were smaller than first- or second-class torpedo boats (as I am guessing are described on that defunct link). They also had small guns like 3-pdrs and low velocity 6- and 12-pdrs that were usually kept aboard their host ship

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